How to Grow Barberry

The barberry (Berberis) is a hardy workhorse of the garden. The shrub's slow, uniform growth rate keeps maintenance requirements low and its thorns make it an ideal choice for a barrier or foundation plant. Dramatic fall leaf and berry color add to this shrub's desirability with so many varieties to choose from, the barberry is suitable for any garden type.

Things You'll Need

• Barberry shrub
• Shovel
• Knife or garden shears
• Water
• Mulch or other organic material

Instructions

1. Review the planting site. Barberries prefer soil that is moist and well-drained, but will tolerate many soil types. To encourage best leaf color, particularly of the purple-leaved varieties, plant the shrub in full sun. Barberries will also tolerate some light shade.

2. Select the shrub type. Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is the most commonly used landscape barberry and offers numerous cultivars. Wintergreen barberry (Berberis julianae) and Mentor barberry (Berberis x mentorensis) are also popular. Check with your garden center or nurseries for available barberries in your growing Hardiness Zone.

3. Prepare shrub for planting. Barberries are usually found as containerized specimens. To remove the shrub, tap the pot on the ground to loosen and ease it from the container. Examine the roots. If the roots seem to be growing in a circle, gently loosen them from the soil.

4. Dig the planting hole. Prepare a planting hole 3 to 4 times the width of the shrub's container and equal in depth. When planted, the top of the shrub's rootball should be level with the surrounding ground.

5. Plant the shrub. Place the shrub in the planting hole. Add some soil to the bottom to stabilize the barberry. Fill the hole with water and allow the rootball and surrounding soil to absorb. Backfill the remaining soil and water again deeply.

6. Dress the planting site. Spread a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around the shrub and over the planting site. Mulching, or "dressing" the site, helps to prevent weeds, keeps the roots cool, retains moisture and gives the garden a finished appearance.

Tips & Warnings

• As a general rule, barberries are successfully grown in Hardiness Zones 4 through 8. Look for varieties specific for your area.

• Barberries are easily transplanted during the growing season. Allow time in the fall for the roots to become established before the ground freezes.

• Barberries require little maintenance. Fertilize early in early November and maintain the mulch level. Pruning should be done in early spring to remove broken and dead branches. If the shrub has become overgrown, barberry can be cut back to the ground to revitalize in late winter.

• Leaf color and size will vary with the variety of barberry. Many Japanese barberry have tear-drop shaped bright green leaves in summer that change to orange, red and purple in the fall. The Crimson Pygmy cultivar, however has bright purplish leaves while 'the Aurea cultivar features bright yellow ones. Berry color will also vary.

• The size and shape of the barberry also varies according to variety and cultivar. There are low-mounded varieties that reach only 3 feet in height and others that can reach a height of 7 feet or more. Choose a barberry based on your available growing site purpose.

• Barberry is most commonly planted as a hedge or foundation plant. It may also be grown in containers.